The field has 10 Division I teams and two from Division II. Two teams, Concord and Merrimack, were added to the event this year.

"I get calls from four or five coaches every year trying to get in," Central coach Ryan Ray said. "It's a very popular event."

Ray and his staff will likely be paying close attention to the Goffstown/Concord contest that precedes Central's matchup with Bishop Guertin of Nashua, since Central will open the regular season with a home game against Concord on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly said he's unsure if linebacker Matt Madden will be in uniform tonight against Timberlane of Plaistow. Madden suffered a torn ACL in Pinkerton's final regular-season game last year. O'Reilly chose not to play Madden, Pinkerton's leading tackler last season, in Saturday's scrimmage at Portsmouth.

"He's perfectly fine," O'Reilly said. "In fact he's playing without a brace instead of with one. But the doctor who did the surgery said, 'Your first time out on a turf field in a scrimmage that doesn't matter — I'd rather you not do that.' In the jamboree, turf field, we'll see. I'll probably let him play."

Six of the 12 teams competing tonight qualified for the playoffs last year.

"It's huge playing in game conditions," Ray said. "Being out on the field under the lights in front of a crowd. The teams that are participating will have a game-speed experience."

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